Reverse light actuation

Hi, would appreciate some advice please, I have been trying to sort a fault with my Freelander 1 TD4 manual gearbox which won't activate the reversing lights. Narrowed it down to the fact that the actuator is not moving in the box to operate the switch. Soon as I operate it manually it's fine. I have to get it booked in for MOT so advice on what I need to do is much appreciated, thanks.

Check the length of the switch: I’ve found replacements are the wrong length.... highly unlikely that the fault is in the gearbox imo

Switch is the original genuine, definitely..
It works fine with me pressing manually, soon as its in the box, no go.
Doesn't appear to be any movement in the switch hole. I'm starting to think over the top ideas such as does the engine need to be running rather that just the electrics on. I've never seen anything like it.

Elsaetka said:

Switch is the original genuine, definitely..
It works fine with me pressing manually, soon as its in the box, no go.
Doesn't appear to be any movement in the switch hole. I'm starting to think over the top ideas such as does the engine need to be running rather that just the electrics on. I've never seen anything like it.

Click to expand...

Maybe your switch contacts have worn, so the switch needs pushing in more than it should?

To test the box, put a screwdriver in to the hole about the same distance as the switch's plunger/thread. Then get a helper to select reverse and see if the screwdriver moves out. If it does then the box is fine and the switch is dead.

The ignition needs to be on for the reverse lights to work, but the engine can be off.

Okay, latest is this. Lights work when operated manually I.e operating the switch by hand. Fitted it to the box and the lights only operate when first (yes first), gear is selected, they don't operate when I select reverse gear. I am 100% definite with this, no mistake.

Sounds like the first and reverse switch wiring is mixed up.

Definitely not I'm afraid. I am pretty much convinced this is a gearbox mechanism fault.

It does sound strange.
But if it's selecting gears, the gearbox is ok. I'm not sure how the switches are activated on the TD4 box, as I've not pulled apart.

Definitely nothing to do with any other wiring, all tracked and traced. I am convinced it's the box mechanism. Would be great to hear from someone who knows these gearboxes, I'm probably not the only one who's had this happen.

When did the fault occur? Have you had any work carried out before it started happening?

I can’t see how it’s the mechanism at fault if first and reverse work correctly on the car

Hi Elsaetka
I had a similar fault with my gearbox and reversing light switch. New switch did not cure the fault of no reversing light when reverse selected. In my case (it was a PG1 gearbox) on a L series Freelander 1, I'm sure the selector mechanism within the box is at fault. I eventually resorted to a manually operated switch and warning light which suited me for other reasons such as trailer hitching at night. Never did find the fault!

Hi Happy Hippo, your answer is spot on and exactly what I thought was the problem. Especially after the amount of testing and double checking I did.
I was actually thinking that the only way around this is fitting a micro switch somewhere to operate it, I saw a potentially suitable switch in Halfrauds, which I considered mounting to work off of the gear lever.
Bearing in mind of course, this is now part of the MOT. Just to make matters worse.
Thanks again, brilliant.

Reverse lights are only tested on vehicles registered after 1st Sept 2009, so don’t panic.

Hi, thanks, yes I read that last night, cheers, also saw it on the government website.
MOT today, it passed. I could wire the reversing lights to a straightforward dash switch, but must admit I've had enough for now, what a farce. At least I'm pleased my suspicions about the gearbox were correct. I hope people who encounter the same problem find this thread helpful, there are a lot of posts on reversing lights.

Hi Elsaetka
Just a quick warning that if you wire a dashboard switch for your reversing lights you will have the hdc warning light permanently on and hdc won't work. Not apparently an MoT failure but a nuisance. I think this is caused by the CCU not understanding why the reversing lights are on if the box is in neutral or any gear other than reverse. For me, the switched reversing lights are more useful than hdc so I've left it like this.
I would still like to know what exactly operates the reversing light switch and how it can fail. I guess it is a protrusion on one of the selector rails which might break off or wear? Is there anyone with a PG1 gearbox in bits who can tell?

Are you sure it's the gearbox? On mine, the reversing lights didn't work when I bought it (it's a 2001 1.8i with PG1 box). I checked the fuses (all fine) and tracked it back to the switch (faulty). I replaced with a new switch. I can't remember whether it then illuminated the lights all the time, or still didn't work, but it turned out that the switch plunger was the wrong length. I could have modified the switch, or packed it out - but actually raided a spare gearbox. Then I tracked another problem to the switch wire connectors - which were corroded and needed a thorough clean. Now everything works perfectly.

I mention all this because it took a surprising amount of time to fix more than one problem to get the lamps working. The reverse gear switch actuator (I think) is through the movement of the selector forks - I'll check this as I need to strip down one of these boxes to fit an LSD to it for another project - so the chances of a mechanical fault in the gearbox is extremely remote...

Happyhippo said:

I guess it is a protrusion on one of the selector rails which might break off or wear? Is there anyone with a PG1 gearbox in bits who can tell?

Click to expand...

It's been a while since I've pulled a PG1 apart, but from memory the switch simply runs on the back of the reverse idler selector fork. This makes it strange that reverse works, but the switch isn't being activated.

Nodge68 said:

It's been a while since I've pulled a PG1 apart, but from memory the switch simply runs on the back of the reverse idler selector fork. This makes it strange that reverse works, but the switch isn't being activated.

Click to expand...

That's what I thought too...